Just a quick update to let everyone know that we have opened a forum on the Holonet for discussion of the Fantasy Flight Games' Star Wars RPG, including the Edge of the Empire game (currently in beta as of this writing). You can find the forum here.
...

Please forgive the personal announcement, but I figured that site visitors would likely want to know about this. I have recently accepted a position as a full time designer for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game at Wizards of the Coast. I'm moving out to Seattle to work in the Wizards offices as a full-time employee, helping write and direct the Star Wars RPG line and assisting on the Star Wars miniatures line. Though it's a daunting prospect to move across the country, I feel confident that I'll be able to adapt. Additionally, since I'll be spending my days working on the Star Wars RPG, I'll be doing what I've been working toward for the last five years.

I hope that this turns out to be a good move. At the very least, it should give all fans of Star Wars roleplaying some hope, as it means the line will continue with me as a full-time designer. Wish me luck, and may the Force be with you!
...

Last night as a part of WotC's UnCon, Gary "GMSarli" Sarli and I took part in an online chat about the upcoming Star Wars RPG Saga Edition core rulebook. Though the chat was a surprise to me as well, we managed to have a pretty solid chat that revealed some details of the new system. Check out the Holonet Forums post for a transcript of the chat, and ongoing discussion. Special thanks to Starcloud on the WotC forums for providing the transcript of the evening's festivities.
...

The Q1 WotC product catalogue has come out, it seems, and in it is some more information about the big project that Owen K.C. Stephens and I worked on together. After Amazon.com broke the news on the book early, I didn't know whether or not I could mention it, so I waited until the catalogue came out to post the announcement here. Regardless, here is the information on the product:

This new edition of the Star Wars Roleplaying Game encapsulates all six feature films while presenting a thorough revision of the rules, making the game easier to learn while improving the overall play experience. The new 288-page core rulebook includes new character abilities and options, a streamlined skill system, a revised combat system, new feats and Force powers, a world gazetteer, statistics for key characters from all six Star Wars films and the Expanded Universe, and guidelines on how to use Star Wars Miniatures and battle maps in play.

SWRPGNetwork Conversions webmaster GMSarli has alerted us to news that the Dark Side Sourcebook and Power of the Jedi are to be reprinted in June. This is confirmed with the uppity ups at Wizards, so those of you that missed them the first time around should be sure to check them out.
...

Wizards of the Coast has posted a PDF file written by SWRPGNetwork Conversions webmaster Gary "GMSarli" Sarli featuring extensive stats from Revenge of the Sith. Taken from web articles written over the course of several weeks, this all-in-one mini-sourcebook should help any gamers wishing to run adventures in the Clone Wars, or even post-Episode III. Take the time to download it, it's really worthwhile.
...

SWRPGNetwork staffer GMSarli is reporting that the upcoming Attack on Endor Scenario Pack expansion for the Star Wars Miniatures Game will include new game material for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game. Apparently, the package includes statistics for several characters and creatures. Here's the scoop:

New vehicle, new creature, bunch of NPCs ... some of these guys had stats previously (several from Rebellion Era Sourcebook), but they're updated to the revised rules. Ponda Boba, Dr. Evazan, and Baron Sootir Fel are all new (AFAIK), and Kyle Katarn is the only one who already had revised stats (Power of the Jedi, but then no one seems to be able to get a copy of PotJ anymore!). Complete list:

Admiral Ackbar

BARC Speeder

Baron Fel

Varactyl (the lizard, named "Boga," that Obi-Wan rode on Utapau in RotS)

Dark Trooper Phase III

Dr. Evazan

Grand Admiral Thrawn

Guri

Kyle Katarn

Ponda Boba

Prince Xizor

A step in the right direction, at the very least. Here's hoping that sales do well and roleplayers show enough interest to encourage the production of more RPG material.
...

A little late posting this news, but it still deserves to be posted. ENWorld member MerricB has posted a letter he received from Living Force director August Hahn. In this letter, he confirms something we've been suspecting for a while now.

August Hahn:
Dear readers and players,

Before I begin, please forgive our delay in responding the many very pertinent, very worthy questions that have been bandied about on this forum (and others). Cynthia and I have been working tirelessly to ensure that every resource was exhausted, every avenue explored
and every possibility spent before bridging the subject that has been on your minds - namely, the second Living Force campaign.

Let me make this as clear to you as it has become to us (but hear me out after I say it):

There will not be an LF2 campaign.

Wizards of the Coast has no interest in pursuing the Star Wars license agreement with LucasFilm beyond its Miniatures product line. This final decision came only very recently, which is why there has been such a delay in an announcement. With no roleplaying products coming out or scheduled, the roleplaying organized play division (the RPGA) will not support a second campaign set in the Star Wars universe.

Thus, I repeat, there will not be a sequel to what WotC gladly acknowledges as a hugely successful campaign. We have had a great run, but just as there hasn't been a Year Six of Babylon 5, there will be no continuance of these great stories once they are finished.

At Winter Fantasy, all good things (and this campaign from its inception under the immensely capable leadership of Jae Walker and the creative gifts of Morrie Mullins has been so VERY, VERY good) will come to an end. This decision is final; it will not change.

Angry letters won't dissuade the powers that be. Threats and wails and gnashing of teeth will avail nothing. For very solid, very understandable reasons, the RPGA will not sanction a
second "season". When it's over, it's over.

So please, we your humble Coordinators beg of you, let's conduct these last months with the same dignity and strength of character (and characters) that made LF worth the gnashing of teeth uncountable. Enjoy the last story arcs. Play your roles to the fullest.

BE the heroes we know you are.

-------

And that, as they say, is the bad news.

The ~good news~ is that we are currently discussing plans for an all new campaign to fill the schedule void that will be left by LF's conclusion.

I can only inform you of what we have been told is acceptable to release at this early date.

The RPGA wants another science-fiction campaign. They want Cynthia and I to handle it, write it, and manage it. They want to make sure that you the players have a rich selection of games to enjoy and that ~includes~ a sci-fi genre choice.

I honestly can say nothing more.

When we know anything else, you'll know it that same day. Why? Because we suck at keeping secrets.

I think we can all agree that this is definitely a dark time for Star Wars Roleplaying.

EDIT: As a co-webmaster pointed out, this is far from an official end to the RPG, but is instead another grim indicator.
...

The Wizards of the Coast Star Wars RPG official site has updated with several pieces, most of which are not of much use to gamers. The first, however, is an excellent random planet generator. However, the generator runs on java, so WebTV users beware. Also listed are an article promoting the various ways to get games running, the announcement of winners of an autographed copy of Secrets of Naboo, a Jedi Quest kids club, and an announcement of a miniatures chat session on Friday, April 13. Check out their page for more information.
...

While we've all known that Owen Stephens is working on a new starships book, the best we've been given were vagaries and generalizations. Wizards of the Coast has issued a press release which announces this book, now entitled Starships of the Galaxy, due out in December. Here's what the press release says:

Starships of the Galaxy (MSRP$21.95). This comprehensive guide shows players how to build and integrate starships into their campaigns and includes rules for ship-to-ship combat. Available in December.

Also officially announced was the Alien Anthology, which we reported to be in the works in a news report on March 7.
...